Of course. A democratic North Korea may sound a little bit difficult for China, but the democratisation of North Korea will ultimately lay out the way for Pyongyang to become more included in and locked into the international system. It will also show great promise for North Korea's reintegration into the world community, following the Chinese way of reform and opening. I totally believe that only reforming and opening up North Korea will persuade it to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for international recognition, energy aid, and the lifting of sanctions. So the democratisation of North Korea is almost the equivalent of reform and opening and is welcome on the Chinese side.

The really interesting part is this is almost precisely the kind of thing the European Union would say. "(I)ncluded and locked into the international system" seems to be the overriding Chinese objective here, and they don't especially care how it is done, just so long as it is.

Also, given the almost certain fall of the heavily right-wing and anti-North Korean government in Seoul in next year's elections, there will be more space for South Korea and China to work together in trying to provide incentives for North Korean cooperation and integration.